Circular knitted elastic fabric



July 26, 1938. K. G. DOUGLAS CIRCULAR KNITTED ELASTIC ,FABRIC Filed Dec. 3, 1936 Patented July 26, 1938 l (UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE signor to Heights, Mass., a

William Gorse Co., Inc., Needham corporation of Massachusetts Application December 3, 1936, Serial No. 114,068

V 1 Claim.

My present invention relates to circular knitted elastic fabrics and to the method of knitting the same whereby al predetermined limit pf stretch is obtained.

In ^`the usual method at present employed in the knitting of elastic fabric on circular knitting .machines, it is customary to employ a standard type of knitting machine or apparatus and to form .the knitted article in a spirally progressive operation, utilizing elastic or elastic-covered threads and material. Such elastic knitted articles are of special use and importance in the making of surgical stockings, abdominal supporters, corset strips, or the like.

In my present invention I have/developed a novel method of utilizing the circular knitting of seamless elastic articles with a novel type of knitted stitch which limits the stretch or elasticity of the article, thus producing a predetermined extent of stretch in the completed article.

`It is also an object of my present invention to provide an attractive, strong, and eilicient elastic- -knit article with the limiting stitches preferably arranged in a substantially diamond-shaped contour as the same are interlocked during the circular knitting action. Thus, my present linvention is entirely distinct from any woven article since I provide a circular seamless knitted fabric and With all the peculiar advantages incident to a seamless structure and continuous production.

v In carrying out my present invention I preferably utilize elastic-covered thread of the usual type, and thereupon knit a rayon thread appearing on one side, preferably the front of the fabric for appearance and finish, with a cotton thread onthe opposite side, or back, although this is not, of course, essential as the same material can be utilized on both front and back.

In carrying out my invention by my novel process I arrange a specially staggered type of stitching for both the rayon and the cotton threads, thus producing, in effect, a diamond-shaped stitch throughout the elastic material which will thus limit the stretch of the elastic fabric thru the controlled ,action of the diamond-shaped stitching, a diamond form being capable of stretching only to a predetermined extent and thereupon limiting the same and, in effect, locking the fabric to th e limit o f stretch to the capacity of the form of the diamond stitch.

Referring to the drawing illustrating preferred embodiments of my present invention,

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic fragmentary view of the tubular knitted seamless fabric embodying my invention;

(Cl. S6- 190) v Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary detailed view illustrating the front, or outside, of the fabric;

Fig. 3 is a corresponding fragmentary view of the back, or inside;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary View in cross-section, and

Fig. 5 is a corresponding front view illustrating the fabric stretched to the limit permitted by my novel construction.

In the usual 4circular type of knitting machines, wherein a seamless tubular elastic fabric is knit by spiral knitting, I so position and arrange certain of the knitting needles in staggered relation so that a finishing front thread, preferably of rayon or the like to give a proper appearance, may be knitted into and along the front of the fabric in practically a diamond form ofinterlocked stitch, While simultaneously knitting at the back of the fabric a cotton thread interlocking with the rayon thread and knitting same around on elastic members.

My invention broadly considered while preferably employing the knitting of the stitches adapted to limit the stretch of the material yet may include a separate line of stitching for such stretch limiting purposes and either at the front or at the back, or both, as in the preferred form and as herein illustrated.

Referring to the drawing wherein the 'circular knit tubular fabric l is formed from any suitable sized material, and of such length, contour, strength, and color as desired, for use in abdominal belts, surgical stockings, knee-cap supporters, etc., shown diagrammatically in Fig. l, wherein covered elastic threads 2-2 are knitted in the circular' machine with the rayon thread 3 and cotton thread 4. By so positioning and staggering the dial needles and cylinder needles of the knitting machine, I am enabled to form my novel knitted stitch which presents substantially a diamond-shaped contour of interlocking stitches, as shown in Figs. 2 and 5, which diamond-shaped stitching will limit the elasticity of the completed fabric when stretched in a vertical direction, as shown in the drawing, to the limit accorded by the flattening of the diamondshaped stitching as shown in Fig. 5. Thus the stretch is predetermined by the interlocking stitching formed by the knitting machines and thus prevents undue stretching as well as giving a control of the elasticity or stretch in the completed fabric.

` 'Ihe result is that I'produce an elastic fabric comprising a facing thread and a backing thread v1n vwhich the backing thread is knit into au the rib wales only in .every course, and the facing thread is knit into all the plain wales in every course, and into alternate rib wales only in alternate courses, and into intervening rib wales in 'intervening courses, and providing also an unknitted elastic strand incorporated between the rib and the plain wales.

I claim: As a' new article of manufacture, a rib fabric 10 comprising a lacing thread and a backing thread in whichthe backing thread is knit into all the rib wales only in every course, andf the facingplain wales. y

yKEITH G. DOUGLAS. 

